EAMONN DOLAN

The 46 year-old’s managerial experience at senior level is relatively limited; he stepped in briefly as Royals caretaker after Brian McDermott was sacked in 2013, and also boasts an impressive campaign with Exeter City – the club he ended his playing days with – in 2003/04, steadying the ship after coming in as caretaker the year previous to narrowly miss out on a play-off spot in the Conference league.

But the former Republic of Ireland junior has been at the heart of Reading’s academy since 2004 and in that time the Madjeski outfit have produced a number of impressive talents, including Shane Long, Alex Pearce, James Henry, Jem Karacan, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jordan Obita, Alex McCarthy, Hal-Robson-Kanu and Ben Hamer – all of whom are now regulars at either Championship or Premiership level. Click here to view the full list of academy graduates.

Dolan’s overall track-record is impressive and perhaps most importantly to Cellino, he’s a coach – rather than a manager – who has worked under the a Director of Football before. Reading employ one, as did Exeter back in 2004.